The Nibelungenlied Revised Edition

The "Nibelungenlied," as the great national epic of Germany, is not only one of the most important literary monuments that the German mind has produced in all periods of its his...

"It was once upon a time when King Jörmunrek rode out of the forest from hunting with his men that Swanhild the Queen sat bleaching her hair. Then they rode upon her and trod he...

In stories of our fathers high marvels we are told Of champions well approved in perils manifold. Of feasts and merry meetings, of weeping and of wail, And deeds of gallant dari...

"The treasure undivided he needs must let remain, When the two kings indignant set on him with their train, But Siegfried gripp'd sharp Balmung (so hight their father's sword),...

Thrice smote he the bright breast-plate, and pierc'd it through and through; Thrice the blood in torrents from the king he drew, Those three strokes have ended that encounter ke...

Within himself thus thought he: "How could I thus misdeem That I should dare to woo thee? sure 'twas an idle dream! Yet, rather than forsake thee, far better were I dead." Thus...

"I will," said noble Siegfried; "well all our course I know, Well the tides and currents how they shift and flow. Trust me, good knight, to pilot you and your company." So from...

"Our minds indeed you troubled, our hopes o'er-clouded dark; Meanwhile the good Knight Siegfried was busy at the bark, While the Lord of Rhineland the game against you won; Thus...

Then forward came the warriors, and straight th' attendants told To bring forth sumptuous saddles o'erlaid with ruddy gold, Whereon might ride the ladies from Worms unto the Rhi...

Adown Sir Siegfried laid him close by the damsel bright. Said she, "Beware, Sir Gunther, remember yesternight; Be pleas'd not to disturb me; wake not my wrath anew, Or at my han...

"They beg moreover, Kriemhild the journey too may share. Now, my good friends, advise me; what's best to do, declare. Should they for them request me to harry thirty lands, Well...

"Besides, my long-lost girdle she weareth as in scorn, My gold adorns her finger;--would I had ne'er been born! Is not all this an outrage to sting and wound me sore? King! if t...

So fast the warrior bound him, he could nor scratch nor bite, Then tied him to the saddle, and after mounted light. So to the tryst-fire laughing with his snorting load, By way...

Firmly they made denial; Kriemhild at once replied, "Whoe'er in this is guiltless, let him this proof abide. In sight of all the people let him approach the bier, And so to each...

Then said the good Sir Gernot, "Ere this pernicious mine Confound us any further, better beneath the Rhine Sink it altogether, and tell no mortal where." Then sadly went fair Kr...

So early on the morrow, about the matin song, Forth came the noble envoys; there was a mighty throng; To court with the good margrave there went a gorgeous crowd, In glittering...

There might you see wide open every window in every wall; The gates of Bechlaren were back thrown one and all; In rode the guests; loud shouted the townsmen least and most; Choi...

"Beg them to grant the favor for which the king hath sent, And so at once will vanish my only discontent. I here am fancied friendless, and scarce esteem'd aright. I'd go myself...

Then answer'd he of Trony, "Fear prompts not what I rede. If so you'll have it, heroes, fall to the work and speed; You'll find me not the hindmost to ride to Etzel's realm." So...

"I knew full well," said Gelfrat, "if Gunther pass'd along This country with his meiny, that we should suffer wrong At the hands of Hagan; 'scape shall he not to-day; He did to...

Of all the gifts that morning bestow'd on every guest, Not one by those Burgundians had ever been possess'd, But by the margrave's bounty, which so by proof they knew. Soon they...

Then spoke the valiant gleeman, "We now have seen too clear, As we were told by Dietrich, that foes beset us here. Best to court hence hurry, and with the kings unite; Then none...

Soon as by Sir Folker the wealthy Hun was slain, You might hear his kinsmen cry out and loudly plain. All in a breath were asking, "Who has this outrage done?" "Folker the bold...

When Hagan saw the portal secur'd against attack, By the thong his buckler the fiery chief threw back, And whirl'd his sword for vengeance with huge two-handed sway; No hope had...

Sir Hawart and Sir Hagan clos'd too in deadly fight; Their strife to each beholder was sure a wondrous sight. Huge strokes from their keen weapons fell thick on either side, Til...

With that, straight from King Etzel he went with many a sigh. Soon his band of heroes found he muster'd nigh. Said he, "Up now, my warriors! don all your armor bright. I 'gainst...

"We ourselves are exiles like blameless Rudeger. Wherefore would you delay us? Him hence then let us bear, And pay him every honor now that he dead is laid. Such unto the living...

"Yet him subdued the Berner," as Hagan erst befell; Seen was the blood of the warrior forth through his mail to well Beneath the fatal weapon that Dietrich bore in fight. Tir'd...

In the last line the expression "full of many a gore" means, probably, full made, spread out by means of many a gore; otherwise "full of gores" would have been sufficient, and t...

(St. V.) The Margrave Rudeger is perhaps the most interesting characterin the poem, but there is no one, with regard to whom the historical, the legendary, and the mythical are...

(St. XLV.) There certainly seems some confusion here. The only people who had injured Gunther in Hungary were the Huns who had massacred the yeomen, and these were not present i...